Christmas is almost here, so it’s time for family, friends, and of course, food! This Christmas Tree Appetizer is a fun and easy dish to serve. You’ll love how perfect this Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is for any Christmas gathering, from a casual get-together to an elegant dinner party.
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Why We Love This Christmas Tree Appetizer
- Perfectly Festive
Easy to arrange ingredients into a festive tree shape. Use a variety of cheeses and grapes for color. - Customizable
Not just for Christmas! Choose your favorite ingredients and toppings to match any party theme or preference. - Easy To Assemble
Just choose a variety of cheeses, crackers, and fruit, and assemble into tree shape. Takes only minutes to put together!
Love this Christmas cheese plate? Try our Cheese & Charcuterie Board for New Year’s Eve!
Ingredient Notes And Substitutions
- Cheese: Colby Jack, Cheddar, and Monterey Jack Cheeses
Cheeses are cut into 3/4 inch cubes or triangles. To make this appetizer recipe even easier, look for precut cheese cubes. They can be purchased ready-cut from Costco, Sam’s Club, and Target. - Grapes: Green and Red
Grapes should be separated from the stems - Fresh Thyme Springs
- Fresh Rosemary Stems
- Celery: Cut the celery stalk into two-inch pieces to use as the tree trunk
Fruit And Cheese Charcuterie Board- Tips For Success
- Follow Order Of Ingredients
Start by stacking the cheddar cheese cubes in a row. Then, stack a row of green grapes under the cheese. As you do this, the cheese and grape rows will widen. See images below for examples.
Follow this order from top to bottom to create a cheese and grape board:
- cheddar cheese
- green grapes
- Monterey Jack cheese
- red grapes
- Colby Jack cheese
- green grapes
- cheddar cheese
- red grapes
- Colby Cheese
Assemble in rows on a platter or cheese board to resemble the shape of a Christmas tree.
2. Allow Guests To Serve Themselves
Just set the Christmas cheese board in the center of your table. Then, let everyone enjoy!
3. Easy To Prep Ahead And Store In Fridge
Cover the board and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it with your favorite crackers.
Christmas Tree Appetizer Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make the Christmas cheese plate the day before and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve.
Cheese can last up to four hours on a cheese board. We recommend serving the Christmas tree cheese platter within one hour of assembling it to ensure the best texture and flavor.
It is best to cut cheese cold for the best texture. Cold cheese will hold its shape better and it won’t stick or smush when you try to cut it.
How to Serve This Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
- This appetizer is best served with crackers, pretzels, or sliced baguettes.
- We suggest laying the ingredients out on a large cutting board or wooden platter for the most impressive presentation
Recipe Variations
- You can also make it into a Christmas wreath instead of a tree by forming the cheese, grapes, and herbs in a circle shape.
- Make this a Christmas tree charcuterie board by adding cured meats, nuts, and seeds.
- Add cracker sticks, olives, and other garnishes to the Christmas cheese plate for added color and texture.
- Use different types of cheeses, fruits, herbs, and other accompaniments to create a unique look.
More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love
Once you try homemade Cranberry Sauce, you’ll never go back to store bought! This Crock Pot Ham with Cola Glaze is a crowd-pleaser and so easy to prep. And make our Buttermilk Brined Turkey Breast for fresh twist on the Thanksgiving meal.
Christmas Tree Appetizer Cheese Board
Equipment
- 12 x 18 inch platter or board
Ingredients
- 12 ounce block Colby Jack Cheese cut into 3/4 inch cubes or triangles
- 8 ounce block cheddar cheese, cut into 3/4 inch cubes or triangles
- 4 ounce block Monterey Jack cheese cut into 3/4 inch cubes or triangles
- 1 pound green grapes separated from the stems
- 1 pound red grapes separated from the stems
- 1 container fresh thyme springs
- 1 container fresh rosemary stems
- 1 stalk celery
Instructions
- Start with the cheddar cheese, stacking the cheese cubes in a row (start with 8 cubes, then adjusts), then stack a row of green grapes (start with about 12, then adjust) under the cheese on your serving platter or board. The cheese rows and grape rows will widen as you go.
- Follow this order to create cheese and grape board: cheddar cheese, green grapes, Monterey Jack cheese, red grapes, Colby Jack cheese, green grapes, cheddar cheese, red grapes, and Colby Cheese shown in rows on a platter or cheese board to resemble a Christmas tree shape.
- Then add a red grape on top, surrounded by green grapes to make the tree topper. Arrange the thyme springs and rosemary springs throughout the grapes on the platter as shown in the recipe photo.
- Cut the celery stalk in 2 inches and place it at the bottom to create the tree trunk. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve with your favorite crackers.
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